What Are Brown lentils and How Can I Use Them?

Here's everything worth knowing about brown lentils and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 23 recipes to cook tonight.

Recipes using brown lentils

There are 23 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Pierogi with Veal Lung & Lentils Filling

My favorite pierogi are filled with the veal lung or the brown lentils. Why not to combine these ingredients into the one filling?

Nosmo's Moroccan Chili

Hearty Moroccan-spiced lentil chili with orange, cinnamon, cardamom and fresh vegetables. Pressure cooker ready in minutes, served over couscous for a warming vegetarian weeknight meal.

Pasta with Spiced Lentils & Tomatoes

Healthy pasta with spiced lentils, tomatoes, and yogurt in a warmly spiced sauce with cumin, coriander, and ginger for a low-fat vegetarian meal.

Fakes Xithati ( Sour Lentil Soup)

Fakes xithati is the traditional Greek sour lentil soup, slow-simmered with garlic, olive oil, and coriander, then finished with a splash of vinegar for a tangy, soulful Mediterranean bowl.

Moroccan-Spiced Lentil Soup

Moroccan-spiced lentil soup combines brown lentils with caramelized onions, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, and red pepper flakes. A warming vegetarian-friendly soup with deep aromatic spice and almost no fat.

Koushari (Lentils Macaroni & Rice in Oil)

Egyptian koushari layers brown lentils, elbow macaroni, and fried rice tossed with tomato puree and crispy ta'leya onions. Egypt's beloved street food, vegetarian and filling.

Tasty Lentil & Spinach Soup

Vegan lentil and spinach soup with brown lentils, fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and a finishing splash of apple cider vinegar. Hearty plant-based one-pot soup with bright, slightly spiced flavor.

Favorite Spinach & Lentil Soup

Greek spinach and lentil soup brightened with lemon, cumin, and coriander. A vegan, gluten-free one-pot meal that's earthy, tangy, and ready for a drizzle of olive oil at the table.

Lentil & Greens Khoreshe

Persian lentil and greens khoreshe with spinach, parsley, cilantro, scallions, and turmeric simmered until tender. A fragrant Iranian stew served over basmati rice.

Spicy Rice & Lentils

Brown lentils and long grain rice simmered with ghee, cinnamon, turmeric, and fresh green chili. A warming one-pot side dish ready in 45 minutes.

Sour Lentil Soup

Tangy brown lentil soup brightened with vinegar and fragrant with coriander and garlic. Vegan, budget-friendly, and on the table in under an hour. A Middle Eastern kitchen staple.

Spiced Lentil Tacos

Smoky, hearty lentil tacos loaded with chipotle sour cream, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. A low-fat vegetarian taco night that even meat lovers will devour.

Kotah Dolmeh

Persian lentil-filled pastries with rose water and cardamom dough deep-fried until golden and puffed for an aromatic vegetarian snack.

Couscous with Lentils, Tomatoes & Basil

One-pot whole wheat couscous with brown lentils, fresh tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan in a vegetable juice broth. A filling low-fat vegetarian dinner for two, ready in about an hour.

Spiced Lentil Casserole

Spiced lentil casserole with brown rice, cabbage, peas, and turmeric baked in vegetable stock. A hearty vegan one-dish meal with Indian-inspired spices including asafetida.

Yemiser W'Et (Spicy Lentil Stew)

Brown lentils simmered in a fiery berbere and niter kebbeh sauce with tomatoes, cumin, and green peas. Scoop this hearty Ethiopian w'et up with injera for the full experience.

Carne De Cerdo - Lentils with Pork & Bananas

South American pork and brown lentil stew finished with firm bananas and fresh cilantro. A surprising, hearty one-pot meal where savory meets sweet in the most satisfying way.

Yet Another Spontaneous Soup

Vegan vegetable soup with lentils, chickpeas, pattypan squash, zucchini, and miso paste for deep umami flavor. Hearty, protein-rich, and made with water, not broth.

Vegiburgers in Pita Bread

Veggie burgers in pita bread are homemade grain patties of barley, lentils, and rice with carrots, onion, and sunflower seeds, pan-fried golden and stuffed into warm pita pockets with lettuce and tomato.

Couscous with Lentils Tomatoes & Basil

Whole wheat couscous with brown lentils, fresh tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan simmered in vegetable juice. A low-fat vegetarian one-pot meal with hearty protein and bright Italian flavors.

Simple Brown Lentil Dhal

Classic brown lentil dhal simmered with turmeric, topped with ghee-fried onions and garam masala for authentic Indian flavor in under an hour.

Richard's Vegetarian Meatloaf

Hearty lentils and brown rice bind with whole wheat breadcrumbs into a satisfying plant-based loaf that slices clean. Packed with protein and fiber for healthy weeknight dinners.

All 23 recipes